Sometimes, a picture tells a thousand words. Quite literally, too, as this reporter is merely basing the ensuing report off an application. 

A disappointing day it would be for the Hawks after the highs of Tuesday night’s wonderful comeback. Whitehawk were free-flowing in front of goal on that evening in north London, yet fast forward a few days to a similar location and the goals would dry up, and a defeat to take back to the Sussex seaside.

Imran Kayani returned from international duty with a place in the starting XI, whilst the returning Charlie Harris would find himself on the bench for this cold November day in Potters Bar. Ben Pope and Tommy Brewer came into the starting line-up, too, as Shaun Saunders made three changes to Tuesday’s side.

From the first whistle, however, the attacking force seen just a few days prior would start to drift away. “Without a doubt our worst showing this season,” manager Shaun Saunders spoke of his side’s performance. In an opening half ravished by low-light and freezing temperatures, Charlie Walker came the closest to breaking the deadlock, but his effort that followed Pope’s knock-down was ballooned over the bar.

With 50 minutes on the clock Whitehawk had a further opportunity to bulge the net, as Walker turned provider for Pope this time, only for the latter to miss the ball on the slide by a matter of inches. Kayani would soon follow up with a chance of his own, creeping in behind the defence, but denied by the frame of Laurence Shala.

Joel Daly and Pope made way for Dominic Johnson-Fisher and Harris, but minutes later the hosts would pull in front for the game’s only goal. Mitch Walker pulled off a delightful save to deny Isaac Currie but, after a collision, the ‘keeper was unable to prevent Temi Babalola from firing home from close-range.

Ryan Worrall joined the fray after replacing Stefan Wright, but besides from a Joe Tennent header and a blocked Johnson-Fisher effort, the Hawks could do no more in finding a late leveller, as they succumbed to a Potters Bar Town side without a home win in the league since the last days of August. 

Frustrating it is, there’s not much time before this chilly afternoon can soon be forgotten, as Whitehawk are back on the road again this coming Wednesday at Hayes Lane, with Cray Wanderers the opposition.